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Eastern Illinois UniversityThe Keep
Masters Theses Student Theses & Publications
1996
A Comparison of Personality Correlates of Self-Identified and Nonidentified Adult Children ofAlcoholicsPatti K. HampstenEastern Illinois UniversityThis research is a product of the graduate program in Psychology at Eastern Illinois University. Find out moreabout the program.
This is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Theses & Publications at The Keep. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Thesesby an authorized administrator of The Keep. For more information, please contact [email protected].
Recommended CitationHampsten, Patti K., "A Comparison of Personality Correlates of Self-Identified and Nonidentified Adult Children of Alcoholics"(1996). Masters Theses. 1912.https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/1912
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A Comparison Of Personality Correlates of
Self-Identified and Nonidentjfied Adult Children of Alcoholics (TITLE)
BY
Patti K. Harnpsten
THESIS
SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE DEGREE OF
Master of Arts
IN THE GRADUATE SCHOOL, EASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
CHARLESTON, ILLINOIS
1996 YEAR
I HEREBY RECOMMEND THIS THESIS BE ACCEPTED AS FULFILLING
THIS PART OF THE GRADUATE DEGREE CITED ABOVE
December 11, 1996 DATE
December 11. 1996 DATE
Table of Contents
Abstract. ....................................................................................... i
Dedication .................................................................................... ii
Acknowledgments ....................................................................... iv
Introduction .................................................................................. 1
Literature Review ......................................................................... 7
Methods ....................................................................................... 12
Participants ....................................................................... 12
Materials ........................................................................... 14
Procedure ......................................................................... 16
Results ......................................................................................... 18
Discussion ...................................................................................... 21
Implications ........................................................................ 24
Future Research ................................................................ 25
References ................................................................................... 27
Abstract
This study compared personality traits of adult children of alcoholics with
adults who did not come from alcoholic home environments, for the purpose of
developing treatment protocols. It was hypothesized that 1) there would be
differences between clinical ACOA's and non-clinical ACOA's, 2) clinical ACOA's
would differ from non-ACOA's, 3) non-clinical ACOA's would differ from non
ACOA's. Four groups were used in the comparison, adult children of alcoholics
in treatment, adult children of alcoholics with no treatment history, non-adult
children of alcoholics in treatment, and non-adult children of alcoholics with no
treatment history. The fifty-two female participants were administered the
Children of Alcoholics Screening Test to determine ACOA status and the
Personality Screening Inventory to measure specified personality traits
(Alienation, Social Nonconformity, Discomfort, Expression, Defensiveness).
Partial support was found for two of the three hypotheses. The first hypothesis
which anticipated trait differences between clinical and non-clinical ACOA's was
not supported. Contrary to expectations, there were no significant differences
between ACOA's on the basis on treatment experience. Analysis revealed
significant differences between clinical ACOA's and non-ACOA's. Clinical
ACOA's scored higher on three of the five scales of the PSI (Alienation, Social
Nonconformity, and Discomfort). Differences were also expected between
non-clinical ACOA's and non-ACOA's. There was partial support for this
hypothesis as non-clinical ACOA's had higher scores on Social Nonconformity
and Discomfort Scales. Implications for clinical practices are discussed as well
as recommendations for further research.
ii
Dedication
This study is dedicated to all the ACOA's I have had the good fortune to
know and from whom I have learned so much about the true meaning of courage.
Each one has been an inspiration, but there are three ACOA's who have made
the most indelible impact on my life; Karen, Jan, and my mother, Patsy.
iii
Acknowledgments
I am indebted to many people, without whom this research would not have
been possible. I would like to begin by expressing my appreciation to my
committee, Dr. William Kirk, Dr. William Bailey, and Dr. Michael Havey.
Dr. Havey was generous in sharing his experience and knowledge of COA's, the
CAST, and the PSI. In addition to his valuable feedback, Dr. Bailey was
graciously patient while assisting me with the statistics for which I thank him.
Dr. Kirk has been my advisor, has served as Chair of my thesis committee, and
most importantly, has been my friend. His compassion and patience are an
inspiration. Without his encouragement and support this project would not have
come to fruition.
I would also like to extend my thanks to my friends and co-workers at
Heartland Human Services. To Cheryl Compton, Executive Director, I owe a debt
of gratitude for allowing me to have access to Heartland Human Services' clients
in order to conduct this research and for allowing me flexibility in my schedule in
order to pursue this graduate degree. There are many people whose concern
and support have meant more to me than they will ever know, Chris Winters,
Lucille Musser, Ellen Couch, Julie Tull, Curt Starkey, Jim O'Neil, Linda Heiden,
and Robin Kralman to name but a few. A special thanks to Jenna Standerfer who
came to my rescue in times of computer crises, she is a friend indeed. And to
Janna Scott, my dear friend, for her steady advice and unwavering confidence in
me which gave me strength when I had none.
iv
I am forever in the debt of my family who have encouraged me and
supported me in my pursuit of my education. To my parents, Kaye and Patsy
Smith, who have always encouraged and supported me in any endeavor, thank
you hardly seems enough. The knowledge that they were always behind me and
the strength of their love has allowed me to reach for my goals. To my other
parents, Carrell and Brenda Hampsten, thank you for being my cheering section
and for always being there for me. Thank you to my aunt Karen Evon, who has
always been a role model and who sparked my interest in psychology.
And finally, to my best friend, my husband, Randy Hamptsen, who has
been patient, tolerant, and who has shown me nothing but love and support
during the struggle to obtain a graduate degree. He helped put things in the
proper perspective when I became obsessed and gave me the strength and
courage to go on when I wanted to quit. He stood by me as I struggled, without
complaint, even though his life was often turned upside down by my chaotic
schedule. I consider myself truly fortunate to have his love and dedication.
Because of him, this leg of the journey is now complete.
v
1
Introduction
Concern over problem drinking has been documented since ancient times.
The writings of Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch, and Cicero make reference to the
problems caused by drunkenness. Interest in the effects of problem drinking on
the offspring of alcohol abusers has also been chronicled from as early as Biblical
times. The Bible makes references to mothers who drink during pregnancy giving
birth to deformed babies (Stevens, 1990).
In more recent times, documentation reveals that alcohol abuse continues
to be an issue of concern. In 18th century England there was widespread
concern that the "Gin Epidemic" was responsible for the plummeting birth rate
and the high infant mortality rate. In Switzerland in 1893, Auguste-Henri Forel, a
professor of mental diseases at the University of Zurich, postulated that alcohol
caused pathological changes in the body, particularly in the reproductive organs.
During the late 19th century the moralistic tenor of the era ushered in the
temperance movement, paving the way for Prohibition in the 1920's (Stevens,
1990).
But it was not until the 1940's that real progress was made in research
investigating the biogenetic causes of alcohol abuse. That is when E.M.
Jellineck, a modern pioneer in the field of alcohol studies, developed the Jellineck
Chart. This instrument outlined the symptoms of alcohol abuse in chronological
order of their appearance, thus outlining the course of the disease and providing
the foundation for the theory that alcoholism was biogenetic in origin.
2
In 1955 The American Medical Association classified alcoholism as a
disease. This move dispelled the myth that there was no hope for alcoholics; that
they possessed weak moral character and lacked will power. This breakthrough
helped shatter the stigma that had long shrouded the people afflicted with this
disease and paved the way for more progressive, effective, and comprehensive
treatment for this disease.
As the drug culture emerged in the 1960's and 1970's, once again the
issue of substance abuse was brought to the forefront of public scrutiny. The
need for more and better treatment became apparent. This resulted in the
chemical dependency field refining its methods of treatment and it evolved into
the highly specialized field it is today. A field of study that in comparison to other
disciplines is still in its infancy.
In the 1970's a new dimension was added to the growing volume of
information and speculation revolving around the disease of addiction. Attention
was beginning to be paid to the spouses of alcoholics. The popular literature
introduced the concept of codependency. There are as many definitions for
codependency as there are people to supply those definitions. For the most part,
the common thread that ties all these definitions together is a preoccupation with
the behavior of the alcohol abuser and a tendency to neglect one's own behavior,
wants, and needs in order to focus on the behavior, wants, and needs of the
alcohol abuser.
Yet another new issue began to gain attention in the 1980's, the issue of
3
what happens to the children who are raised in a home with an alcoholic parent.
For years the focus had been on the pain suffered by the alcoholic, but what
about the damage inflicted upon the alcoholic's or drug addict's family? In the
1980's the codependency and adult children of alcoholics movements began to
emerge. Clinicians who treated alcoholics and drug addicts, and who had the
opportunity to interact with their families in a therapeutic setting began to notice
that family members of alcoholics and addicts did not walk away from their
experience with an addicted family member unscathed. Finally clinicians,
researchers, and the general public began to ask questions about what happens
to family members as a result of a loved one's drinking and/or drug use and the
adult children of alcoholics movement was born.
It is estimated that there are 28 to 34 million children of alcoholics in
America (Carroll 1989; Stevens 1990; Thomson 1990). It has been further
estimated that there are currently ten million American adults afflicted with
alcoholism who in turn directly affect another five to ten million lives (Stevens,
1990). Studies suggest that alcoholism affects one in four American families and
that each alcoholic directly affects the lives of four to six other people (Cole,
1989) and it is believed that one out of every eight Americans has been raised in
an alcoholic home (Thomson, 1990). Given that there are this many people who
are affected by the addiction of another and suffer the consequences of being
brought up in such an environment, it is not surprising that there are some who
need help in dealing with the negative effects of being involved with an alcoholic
4
or addict.
While there are some adult children of alcoholics (ACOA's) who do not
seek treatment and who function relatively well, this is not the case for all
ACOA's. It is believed by some that ACOA's are at a greater risk for
psychological and physical distress (Kashubeck, 1994). Thomson (1990) reports
that clinical studies have shown many people with psychological problems who
present for treatment have at least one parent who is alcoholic. Adult children of
alcoholics are disproportionately represented in our nation's correctional facilities,
family court systems, spousal and child abuse cases, divorces, and within
populations plagued with psychological and emotional problems (Carroll, 1988).
This characterizes ACOA's as a population at risk, a population that in order to
receive effective help, needs to be better understood.
While interest in this subject has grown in recent years, much of the
information being reported is done so in the popular press or is based on clinical
observation that has not been empirically validated. The clinical research has
been described as small and methodologically weak (Cole, 1989), lacking in
control groups, and using sample sizes that are too small to yield accurate results
(Stevens, 1990). Cole (1989) makes the observation that the empirical studies
that have been done focus primarily on young children and not adults. Due to the
lack of empirical research, mental health clinics and substance abuse treatment
centers have put together programs to treat ACOA's with the disadvantage of little
or no research to validate that what is being done is appropriate or effective. Due
5
to the paucity of empirical literature on this population, further research is
warranted. It has been suggested that the focus of additional research should
include investigating personality characteristics (Fisher, Jenkins, Harrison, &
Jesch, 1993). Also needed is research delineating the specific effects of parental
drinking on family dynamics and individual functioning, both in clinical and non
clinical samples (Sheridan & Green 1993).
Since ACOA's are a population at risk, it is reasonable to assume that
many will find their way to helping professionals, be it through self referrals or
referrals through other sources such as the court system, child welfare entities, or
employee assistance programs. In the current atmosphere of managed care,
where insurance companies and other entities dictate lengths of stay for clients
who seek treatment, the clinician is no longer afforded the luxury of time she or
he once was. Accurate assessments must be made with much speed and clients
are moved through the treatment episode much more quickly than ever before.
Models of therapy such as solution oriented approaches and brief episodic
therapy are replacing more traditional interventions like client centered therapies
and psychodynamic approaches to therapy. Faced with these kinds of changes,
practicing clinicians need a framework to help them understand client issues so
those issues can be appropriately addressed as soon as possible, often in the
first clinical session.
The purpose of this study is to provide such a framework for clients and
clinicians alike by identifying personality characteristics that differentiate ACOA's
6
from non-ACOA's. If clusters of personality traits can be identified as occurring
within the ACOA population, then perhaps interventions can be designed in such
a way as to insure the likelihood that such interventions will be well received by
this client population, thus enhancing the benefits of the treatment experience
and expediting progress. This study explores the personality characteristics of
identified adult children of alcoholics to discover similarities in a clinical group.
ACOA's with no treatment experience are also studied for comparative purposes.
7
Literature Review
As reported previously, much of the literature that can be found on the
ACOA population is found in the popular press. Book stores across the nation
now have entire sections devoted to ACOA's, their issues, and their recovery.
Journal articles that appear on this topic are often based on clinical observations,
not empirical data. Of the clinical observation articles that have been published,
some researchers have found common characteristics and dysfunctions among
the ACOA population (Carroll 1989; Cole 1989; Thomson 1990; Sheridan &
Green 1993; Fisher, et. al. 1993) while others have not found any significant
differences in functioning (Stevens 1990; Seefeldt & Lyon 1992; Logue, Sher, &
Frensch 1992; Kashubeck 1994).
Early research focused on the propensity of offspring of alcoholics to
develop the disease of alcoholism themselves. The consensus is that sons from
alcoholic homes are four times more likely to become alcoholic than sons from
non-alcoholic homes (Cole, 1989). Sheridan and Green (1993) reported the most
common adverse affect is an increased likelihood of developing alcoholism ones
self or marrying an alcoholic. Their study also reports a higher incidence of (1)
physical problems including fetal alcohol syndrome, hyperactivity, increased
accident proneness, and stress related disorders; (2) psychological disorders
such as anxiety, depression, neuroticism, and hysteria; (3) social and behavioral
problems including difficulty with relationships, delinquency, and school related
problems. Studies on family cohesion revealed overly close and overly distant
8
dynamics in alcoholic families. Studies on adaptability showed dysfunctional
extremes ranging from rigid to chaotic. Communication incongruence was found
with a narrow range of expression in both content and affect. These dynamics
are thought to result in social isolation of the family members, deficits in self
definition or the tendency to define ones self through other external relationships
(Sheridan & Green 1993). The findings of Sheridan's and Green's study suggests
that ACOA's may be handicapped in their adult lives as a result of deficits
stemming from their experiences in the family of origin. They propose that the
individual's condition is the result of ongoing exposure to a dysfunctional family
system which impedes normal psycho-social development.
Kashubeck's 1994 study reported results indicating that parental
alcoholism was positively related to psychological distress. It is reported that
ACOA's generally do not experience severe problems until adulthood and that the
problems experienced typically emerge when they encounter adult stressors
(Carroll, 1989). Clinical observations have produced the notion that adult
daughters from alcoholic homes are affected the most (Carroll 1989; Kashubeck
1994). They are reported to display certain patterns of behavior that are
problematic and have major personality difficulties. They are thought to
experience more problems with greater problem severity. Cole (1989) reports
that these problems result in more psychological symptoms: more depression,
lower self esteem, and underlying anger and resentment for authority.
There are numerous reports that have found no significant differences in
9
personality of ACOA's. Stevens' study (1990) investigated adult daughters of
alcoholics to see if they displayed problems in functioning in seven dimensions
commonly associated with female ACOA's. No significant differences were found
in any of the seven dimensions which included: (1) difficulty trusting others,
(2) excessive desire for control, (3) hypervigilance, (4) guilt proneness,
(5) excessive desire for approval, (6) denial of emotions, wants, and needs,
(7) difficulty having fun. A 1989 study by Carroll could find no significant
differences in these same dimensions. Logue, Sher, and Frensch (1992) suggest
that the lack of significant differences in empirical studies could be due to the
"Barnum Effect". They used Meehl's theory as inspiration for their 1992 study.
The Barnum Effect is the "phenomena of accepting a personality description as
valid, when in fact the description is merely so vague, double headed, and
socially desirable, or of such a great base rate in the general population that it
defies rejection" (Logue, Sher, & Frensch, 1992). Their study also supported that
the Barnum Effect was found to exist in their sample. Seefeldt and Lyon (1992)
also doubt the validity of the perception of ACOA's as a homogeneous group and
argue the Barnum Effect in defense of their position.
Still, others have found mixed results. Carroll (1989) states that while
there is no typical alcoholic family, all alcoholic families are dysfunctional. As a
result of their shared experiences, Carroll believes that ACOA's develop core
issues that set them apart from children from non-alcoholic homes. In a 1989
study, Cole suggested that alcoholic homes provide less emotional support for
developing children, inconsistent and unstable expectations about love and
affection, and more parental conflict resulting in a lack of role modeling for
appropriate adult behavior and healthy relationships. She goes on to say
however, that many ACOA's appear to function well and do not present for
treatment and therefore, the information that has been presented in clinical
observations may not be true for all ACOA's.
10
Fischer, et. al, (1993) found in their study that ACOA's differed from adults
with no identified dysfunctional family history but they did not differ significantly
from other adults with dysfunctional family histories.
Millon defines personality as "ingrained and habitual ways of psychological
functioning that emerge from the individual's entire developmental history. These
traits are shaped by the individual's interactions with the world. Gradually,
individuals acquire a pattern of relating to others and coping with their world"
(Thomson 1990). If this is true, then the environment in which an individual is
raised will certainly have an effect on the traits that individual develops. It is
widely believed that an individual's personality is shaped by his or her early
experiences and that those experiences will influence future behavior. If one
grows up in a home environment where one or more parent is alcoholic, it would
seem reasonable that this experience would also influence that individual's
development. Since it is known that alcoholic families have sets of particular
problems that differ from the problems of normal or non-alcoholic families, it is
conceivable that there would be a difference in personality traits between children
11
exposed to an alcoholic home environment and children who were not. Does the
experience of being an ACOA lead to the development and utilization of particular
coping patterns and not others? Could data on ACOA's, both clinical and non
clinical, be integrated into a well documented and acceptable theory of
personality? This study makes a contribution to the literature which helps to
answer these questions and provides the basis of a framework for problem
identification and treatment of the ACOA population by demonstrating that such
differences do exist.
This study investigated whether there are differences in personality traits
by comparing measured personality traits of both clinical ACOA's and non-clinical
ACOA's with adults not raised in an alcoholic home, some of whom had treatment
experience and some of whom did not. Three hypotheses were tested. It was
expected that (1) there would be differences in measured personality traits
between clinical and non-clinical ACOA's; (2) that even more pronounced
differences would occur between clinical ACOA's and non-ACOA's; (3)
differences were also anticipated between non-clinical ACOA's and non-ACOA's.
12
Methods
Participants
This study utilized a total of fifty-two participants divided into four groups.
Adults presenting for treatment in an outpatient mental health clinic who were
raised in homes where at least one parent was alcoholic make up the first group
(n=11). They are referred to as clinical adult children of alcoholics (clinical
ACOA's) in this study. Adults who were raised in an alcoholic home where at
least one parent was alcoholic and who identify themselves as adult children of
an alcoholic, but who are not seeking treatment nor have had any prior treatment
experience comprise the second group of participants (n=8). They are referred to
as non-clinical adult children of alcoholics (non-clinical ACOA's). Adults
presenting for treatment in the same outpatient mental health clinic but who have
not been raised in an alcoholic home environment make up the third group (n=10)
and are referred to as clinical non-adult children of alcoholics (clinical non
ACOA's). Lastly, the control group consisted of adults who were not raised in an
alcoholic home environment, who were not seeking treatment, and who had no
prior mental health counseling experience (n=23). This group is referred to as
non-adult children of alcoholics (non-ACOA's). It has been suggested that there is
a latent onset of problems in ACOA's; problems generally do not appear until the
20's and 30's with the most common age of onset of problems occurring in the
mid 30's. To insure a more homogeneous group, all participants were females
who ranged in age from 18 to 45.
13
Participants for these four groups were selected in two different ways.
Participants in the clinical ACOA group had to meet three criteria: (1) they were
selected from patients presenting for treatment at a community outpatient mental
health clinic; (2) they were determined to have come from an alcoholic family of
origin home environment; (3) they obtained a score of six (6) or more on the
Children of Alcoholics Screening Test (CAST). Participants for the clinical non
ACOA group were also selected from patients presenting for treatment in the
same community outpatient mental health facility, but they were determined not to
have been raised in an alcoholic home environment and scored a zero (0) on the
CAST. The non-clinical ACOA group as well as the non-ACOA group were
selected from students attending school at a middle sized university in the same
geographical area as the outpatient mental health clinic. These participants were
asked to complete a demographic questionnaire to determine age, gender, and
any prior counseling experience. They also completed the CAST to determine
ACOA status. Participation in the study for all of these groups was voluntary. All
participants signed consents allowing their test data to be used in the study.
Only female participants were used in this study as the literature suggests
that daughters from alcoholic homes are more likely to experience problems and
that the problems they experience are of greater severity. It has also been
reported that females are more likely to seek help for their problems (Carroll,
1989; Kashubeck, 1994). Another factor that supports the use of female
participants exclusively is concern that males and females respond to the CAST
14
differently (Dinning & Berk, 1989; Havey & Dodd, 1992; Havey & Dodd, 1995). If
there is indeed a difference in CAST scores due to gender, then the use of only
female participants eliminates a potential confounding variable.
Materials
Participants of all four groups completed a demographic questionaire that also
asked about family background and other possible sources of dysfunction such
as the presence or absence of: (1) other types of parental substance abuse; (2)
domestic violence; (3) incest; (4) chronic psychiatric problems; (5) chronic
physical problems. Because family problems such as these have been reported
to produce effects similar to parental alcoholism, the presence or absence of
these problems needed to be determined (Sheridan & Green, 1993).
In order to determine whether or not participants were the child of an
alcoholic, they completed the Children of Alcoholics Screening Test (Jones,
1981). The CAST is a 30 item inventory that measures feelings, attitudes,
perceptions, and experiences related to parental drinking. Subjects respond
"yes" or "no" to questions that ask about one's experience with parental drinking
behavior, e.g. "Did you ever wish that a parent would stop drinking?" or "Have
you ever lost sleep due to a parent's drinking?" The number of affirmative
answers are summed to yield the respondent's score. Scores on the CAST can
range from 0 to 30; a score of 0-1 indicates that the respondent is not an ACOA;
scores of 2 to 5 indicate that the respondent has experienced problems due to
parental drinking behavior; a score of 6 or above indicates ACOA status.
15
Although this is a recently developed instrument, testing of reliability and validity
support its adequacy for screening ACOA status (Pilat & Jones, 1984/1985). It
should be noted however, that in a recent study (Havey & Dodd, 1995) there were
gender differences indicating that females are more likely to identify themselves
as children of an alcoholic than are males.
Personality is an abstract concept that is difficult to define. This study
utilized participants' scores on the Psychological Screening Inventory (PSI) to
measure personality traits. The PSI is a 130-item forced-choice instrument that
consists of five scales. The five scales are Alienation, Social Nonconformity,
Discomfort, Expression, and Defensiveness, and were selected to provide a
maximum amount of useful information in a limited amount of time and with
limited effort on the part of the respondent and the examiner (Lanyon, 1973).
Respondents are asked to mark either "true" or "false" to the personalized
statements that are presented on a single sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 paper printed on the
front and back. The PSI is designed to meet the need for a brief mental health
screening in situations where time is limited and clinical resources are under
multiple demands. It is appropriate for use by clinical staff who are called upon to
make fairly specific decisions about broad clinical populations. It is ideal for
completion where space and privacy are limited, such as a clinic waiting room. It
is also ideal for group administration. The items are worded to a grade school
reading level and are found to be non-threatening to the vast majority of
respondents (Lanyon, 1973). The PSI can normally be completed in fifteen
16
minutes. Ease of administration is accompanied by ease of scoring as the PSI
can be scored in three to four minutes. It is suggested that a profile with two or
more omissions be returned to the respondent and that the respondent be
encouraged to choose the answer that best fits. Respondents are allowed to ask
questions in order to clarify what an item is stating if need be; however, if more
than two or three questions are asked, the profile should be interpreted with
caution.
Development of the PSI began in 1964. Norms are based on 500 males
and 500 females representative of the population in the United States with
respect to age, education, and geographical location. Reliability compares
favorably with reliability coefficients for the MMPI and validity of the PSI as a
mental health screening device is supported by pilot studies (Lanyon, 1973).
Procedure
The clinical ACOA group and the clinical non-ACOA group were
administered tests individually as part of their intake procedure. Debriefing
occurred in the following individual therapy session. Test data became a part of
the clients' clinical record and was incorporated into the development of their
respective treatment plans.
The participants in the non-clinical ACOA group and the non-ACOA group
were asked to complete the testing if they chose to do so and return completed
testing to the designated university instructor. Each participant was provided with
a written summary of the purpose of the study and was allowed to have any
17
questions about the study and their participation answered to their satisfaction.
All participants signed a written consent form prior to participation. Debriefing
sessions were offered to any of the participants who wished to discuss the results
of their testing.
18
Results
The hypotheses were tested using 1-way ANOVAs for the five PSI scales.
Partial support was found for two of the three hypotheses. The first hypothesis
anticipated trait differences between clinical and non-clinical ACOA's. Contrary to
expectations, there were no significant differences between the ACOA's on the
basis of treatment experience (all p's < .05). Differences between clinical ACOA's
and non-ACOA's were expected by the second hypothesis; this was partially
supported. Analyses revealed significant differences on three of the five
personality scales {p < .05). As shown in Table 1, ACOA's scored higher on
Alienation, Social Nonconformity, and Discomfort. Partial support was also found
for the final hypotheses, which anticipated differences between non-clinical
ACOA's and non-ACOA's (p's < .05). As seen in Table 2, significant differences
were revealed in the scores for Social Nonconformity and Discomfort, with
ACOA's scoring higher.
Table 1
Means and (Standard Deviations) on the PSI Scales of
Clinical ACOA's and Non-ACOA's
Clinical ACOA's
Non-ACOA's
Legend:
Alien.(a)
57.82
(5.95)
48.70
(8.64)
a. F(1,42) = 10.51, p = .0023
b. F(1,42) = 17.89, p = .0001
c. F(1,42) = 20.11, p = .001
Soc.(b)
60.82
(8.49)
49.67
(7.26)
Discom.(c) Express.
58.64 52.91
(10.11) (11.81)
44.85 54.00
(8.39) (10.52)
19
Def.
48.18
(8.53)
53.52
(9.71)
Table 2
Means and (Standard Deviations) on the PSI Scales of
Non-Clinical ACOA's and Non-ACOA's
Non-Clinical ACOA's
Non-ACOA's
Legend:
Alien.
54.00
(12.09)
48.70
(8.64)
a. F(1,39) = 4.63, p = .0377
b. F(1,39) = 5.61, p = .0229
Soc.(a)
56.00
(8.35)
49.67
(7.26)
Discom.(b) Express.
53.13 58.88
(10.79) (10.93)
44.85 54.00
(8.39) (10.52)
20
Def.
46.25
(10.47)
53.52
(9.71)
21
Discussion
In this study, clinical ACOA's scored higher than non-ACOA's on the
Alienation, Social Nonconformity, and Discomfort Scales of the PSI. This
suggests that ACOA's who seek treatment are more likely to exhibit
characteristics associated with pathology, such as unusual thoughts, deviant
behavior, difficulty relating to people, and feelings of isolation than non-ACOA's.
Complaints such as these are quite common in clinical settings and frequently are
reasons for referral for many clients to treatment.
The higher scores on the Social Nonconformity Scale indicate ACOA's who
are in treatment may tend to be more non-conforming socially and may have a
tendency to act more impulsively than the general population. These individuals
may be more likely to engage in acting-out behavior and have a disregard for
social convention. This can often result in legal problems which often times
culminate in a court ordered referral for psychiatric assessment and treatment.
Behavior associated with high scores on the Social Nonconformity Scale may
also interfere with job performance or the ability to get and keep a job, resulting in
an employer referral for assessment and treatment. In both these instances, it
may well be an intervening party who prompts the ACOA into treatment rather
than the ACOA choosing to seek treatment entirely on their own. This group of
ACOA's may be less motivated for treatment and could typically be described as
non-compliant with treatment recommendations. They may view treatment as
preferable to other sanctions and may not be invested in attempting any real
22
behavior change. This seeming lack of motivation coupled with their preference
for socially non-conforming behavior can easily create an atmosphere conducive
for power struggles, passive treatment resistance, and finally, treatment failure.
This sort of dynamic can feed into the belief system that perpetuates socially non
conforming behavior which may in turn facilitate feelings of alienation and
discomfort. Were it not for the insistence of the intervening party, this population
of ACOA's might never enter treatment.
Reported symptoms of depression and feelings of anxiety are common
complaints among individuals who seek mental health treatment and are
frequently the presenting problems prompting people to seek treatment. This is
true whether or not the individual seeking treatment is an ACOA. Clinical ACOA's
scored higher on the Discomfort Scale, suggesting that they may feel more
awkward, have an increased sense of anxiety, and report more symptoms of
depression than their non-ACOA comparison group. This is the group of ACOA's
who would be more likely to willingly pursue treatment in an effort to gain some
relief from the discomfort they are feeling. If this is indeed the case, they are
likely to be more motivated for treatment and more compliant with treatment
recommendations.
Clinical ACOA's also scored higher on the Alienation Scale. Individuals
who score high on this scale may feel disconnected or set apart from others; they
may lack a social support structure, and in lieu of such, they may turn to
professional counselors for support. For ACOA's for which this is true, treatment
might include the development of the social skills and communication skills
necessary to establish and maintain interpersonal relationships. With the
acquisition of these skills, the need for professional intervention for support
purposes may decrease.
23
Non-clinical ACOA's, like their clinical counterparts, also scored higher on
the Social Nonconformity and Discomfort Scales than did the non-ACOA group;
there was, however, no significant difference in the Alienation Scale. This
suggests that the non-clinical ACOA group also experiences more measured
anxiety and symptoms of depression than the general population. This group
may also engage in impulsive behavior, acting-out behavior, or other forms of
socially non-conforming behavior as well. Perhaps the difference for this group of
ACOA's, given that they did not have significantly higher scores on the Alienation
Scale than did the general population, is they may have the social support
systems necessary to assist them in adequately dealing with their emotions and
the consequences of their behavior.
The study also revealed some other interesting findings. ACOA's who
were in treatment were more likely to have come from a home where the parents
were divorced, reported having experienced domestic violence at some time in
their lives more than the other participants, and reported having been victims of
incest more frequently than did the participants in the other groups. This might
suggest that being an ACOA alone does not increase the likelihood that an
individual will experience life problems or discomfort significant enough to compel
him or her to seek treatment. Perhaps the compounded traumas of other
stressors, such as domestic violence or incest, are the experiences that
differentiate those who are referred for help and those who are not.
lmplicaitons
24
This study demonstrates that there are some differences in measured
personality traits between ACOA's who seek treatment and the population at
large. There were measured differences in personality between ACOA's who do
not seek treatment and the general population as well. The data suggests that
ACOA's, both those seeking treatment and those who do not, report more
symptoms of anxiety and depression than the general population. Likewise, both
ACOA groups may tend to exhibit behaviors that can be interpreted as socially
non-conforming, such as impulsivity and acting-out behavior. The ACOA
treatment group also tended to report more feelings of isolation as well as
difficulty relating to people. Such a response might impede someone from
engaging in the necessary social support that might enhance treatment or
stabilize an otherwise vulnerable individual. It may in fact be these issues that
compel this subgroup of ACOA's to seek treatment in an effort to obtain the
support they do not have, thus substituting the counselor/client relationship for a
social support network.
25
Future Research
This study has endeavored to make a contribution to the research
literature on ACOA's. The data demonstrates that there are indeed measured
personality traits differences between ACOA's and non-ACOA's which
corroborates previous research in this area. Whatever the determining factor is in
the decision to seek treatment by some ACOA's, more research is needed to help
better understand the nature of the problems they face.
Certain limitations of this study should be kept in mind when considering
these results; sample size was comparatively small (n = 52); the clinical ACOA
group consisted of eleven participants while the non-clinical ACOA group was
comprised of eight participants. The non-ACOA group with mental health
counseling experience consisted of ten participants. The final group, the non
ACOA's with no counseling history, included twenty-three participants. A larger
sample might well yield different results. Another consideration is the differences
in the mean ages of the clinical groups and the non-clinical groups. Participants
for the non-clinical groups were selected from students attending college and are
likely to be younger than their clinical counterparts. It has been suggested that
there is a latent onset of problems for ACOA's; problems generally do not
manifest until later, often during the mid 30's. Therefore, samples of individuals
who are closer in age could also yield different results.
Additional research on this topic with larger a sample would surely be a
much needed contribution in the field. As a result, perhaps interventions and
26
treatment strategies can be developed that will assist ACOA's in achieving their
treatment objectives as quickly and as effectively as possible, enhancing the
quality of life for many ACOA's.
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